This area is designed to answer our most frequently asked questions, or FAQs, about the Distance Education Clearinghouse, your best place on the Web to find honest and open information about distance education content offerings and courses.
We have the FAQ's divided into two flavors. Here you can jump directly to:
Anyone interested in using distance education services - such as a teacher, a school, a school district, or an individuals - is considered a "Distance Education Consumer", and can create an account using the "Registration" link from the navigation box on the left side of the page. Or, you could simply click here to register now!
It's important to note that organizations frequently are registered as both a Consumer, and a Provider since they sometimes use distance content from others, and create distance content others can request. The same account details, and contacts can be used for each account.
How does your system work?
The Distance Education Clearinghouse allows you to both search for content modules and courses in a wide range of categories, and post a "Content Request" that notifies of others what type of content you need. The areas of interest are broken down into various topics and target populations from K-20, or if you prefer, from the beginning of school age through higher education and continuing education.
Our database does not house online course content directly. It puts distance education consumers and providers in touch with each another. We don't sell coures, build them, or provide them through this website. Consider us a matchmaker.
If you don't find what you are looking for, or just want to be kept informed on new offerings in certain topic categories, you can post a Content Request in the database. This ensures that you will be notified when new content modules or courses are entered which meet your areas of interest.
Providers of distance education services are also informed when someone is interested in specific content that has been requested.
For a full list of Clearinghouse features, please see the Consumer Info page.
Are there any fees associated with your services?
No, there are no fees. Nadda. Zippo. Zilch. Registration, searching the database, and full posting of your Content Request is completely free. There are no hidden fees or charges. We won't push our agenda, or promote our member courses above others. We want you to find the content that you need. That's it.
How is this possible? How do you make your money?
We don't make money. The Distance Clearinghouse is sponsored by a non-profit organization called the Alaska Distance Learning Partnership (ADLP). Just like it sounds, its membership consists of a group of organizations interested in making distanced education services easier, and more effective. Members include school districts, higher education and telecommunications industry vendors.
Who can use this service?
Any organization, school, school district, educational institution or person that is interested in consuming - using or buying - or providing distance education services.
It is important to note that our services are open to everyone - both inside and outside Alaska. Our state has villages seperated by hundreds of roadless miles from their nearest neighboring community. Because our schools in many parts of the state use satellite uplinks for their connectivity, it is actually simpler and faster in latency terms to connect to schools in most of the world than use the double satellite hop (1200 milliseconds) between Alaskan villages. Really.
Much of the distance learning connections our members utilize are with schools and organizations from around the country, and around the world. We are open to all. Period. We don't care what state or country you or your organizationare from. We simply want to facilitate distance learning. The locations of the end points don't matter as much getting the right people in touch with each other ;-)
I forgot my password. What should I do now?
You can retrieve your password at any time from our system by using the "Forgot Password" link from the navigation menu. You just need to provide the correct email address used during registration process, and be able to access that email account to get the mesage we send you. Or you could click here to have your password sent.
I forgot my activation key and the system doesn't let me in. What should I do now?
You can retrieve your activation key at any time from our system. You just need to provide the correct email address used during registration process, and be able to access that account to get the message we send. You can click here to re-send your activation key to yourself by email.
I would like to receive emails with content module and course listings that match my interests. What should I do?
You should subscribe to the "ContentMail" service, and the system will send you daily or weekly emails (your choice) with any new course content modules or courses posted which match the needs you put in your Content Request. You will, of course, need to first enter that information into the system.
You can always unsubscribe from ContentMail whenever you'd like by going to the same ContentMail settings screen from the navigation menu. You can also click here to subscribe to the ContentMail system.
I would like to change my account details, or my Content Request settings - is this possible?
Sure! You can change the any of your account details, or Content Request settings by using the "My Account", or the "Content Requests" links from the navigation menu on the left side of the screen.
After making the necessary changes, simply click the Save button. There is also a Preview link, which will display your information the way it's viewed by providers. Click here to modify your account settings.
I would like providers to be able to download other information about our organization, or its needs - is this possible?
Yes, you just need to upload the information in Word (.doc) or PDF format from your computer into our system using the browse (upload) button of the Content Request page. This document can be an overview of your school or classroom needs, a brochure, or an actual RFP, if needed. Just make sure it is a single file. It doesn't matter how matter pages that file has. Click here to upload your supporting documentation now.
Provider Questions
How can I register as a Provider of distance education content?
Anyone interested in offering distance education content - such as a school, a school district, or an individual teacher interested in a teacher-to-teacher shared class - is considered a "Distance Education Provider", and can create an account using the "Registration" link from the navigation box on the right side of the main page. Or, you could simply click here to register now!
It's important to note that organizations frequently are registered as both a Consumer, and a Provider since they sometimes use distance content from others, and create distance content others can request. The same account details, and contacts can be used for each account.
How does your system work?
The Distance Education Clearinghouse allows you to both list you available content modules and courses in a wide range of categories, and search for "Content Requests" from potential consumers telling what they need. The areas of interest are broken down into various topics and target populations from K-20, or if you prefer, from the beginning of school age through higher education and continuing education.
Our database does not house online course content directly. It puts distance education consumers and providers in touch with each another. We don't sell coures, build them, or provide them through this website. Consider us a matchmaker.
If you don't find consumers you think are likely recipients for your content, or just want to be kept informed on new consumers of content in certain topic categories, our RequestMail ssystem ensures that you will be notified when new content consumers sign up which would are likely to be interested in your content offerings.
Consumers of distance education services are also informed when new content is listed that meets specific interests they have requested.
For a full list of Clearinghouse features, please see the Provider Info page.
Are there any fees associated with your services?
No, there are no fees. Nadda. Zippo. Zilch. Your organization's registration, searching the Content Requests database, and full posting of your Content Modules or courses is all completely free. There are no hidden fees or charges. We won't push our agenda, or promote our member courses above others. We want you to find the right content consumers for your courses. That's all.
How is this possible? How do you make your money?
We don't make money. The Distance Clearinghouse is sponsored by a non-profit organization called the Alaska Distance Learning Partnership (ADLP). Just like it sounds, its membership consists of a group of organizations interested in making distanced education services easier, and more effective. Members include school districts, higher education and telecommunications industry vendors.
I forgot my password. What should I do now?
You can retrieve your password at any time from our system by using the "Forgot Password" link from the navigation menu. You just need to provide the correct email address used during registration process, and be able to access that email account to get the mesage we send you. Or you could click here to recover your password.
I forgot my activation key and the system doesn't let me in. What should I do now?
You can retrieve your activation key at any time from our system. You just need to provide the correct email address used during registration process, and be able to access that account to get the message we send. Or, you can click here to have your activation key sent again by email.
How long do my content modules or courses stay active in the listings?
The expiration period is set to whatever you'd like when you create the listing. You can specify any length of time that is appropriate, but the default period is 180 days, or roughly six months. You will be notified a week before expiration, and asked if you'd like to extend the availability of the content module or course.
I would like to receive emails with new consumer Content Requests that match my content offerings. What should I do?
The RequestMail system will automagically send you daily or weekly emails - your choice - with any new Content Requests that come in which match modules or courses you have specified in your listings. You can also manually search for requests and interests that don't match you listings by using the Search Requests features. You can unsubscribe in your account settings if you'd like.
I would like to change my account details, or organization profile. Is this possible?
Absolutely. You can change the account contact, logo, organization description, or the details of any of your listings whenever you'd like. Use the "My Organization" link to modify basic information, such as log in and password, and use "Modify Profile" to edit other details.
It is important to note that each content module or course can have its own detailed description, and seperate contact information. These details are modified through the "My Listings", and then the "Edit Listing" links.
I would like upload my logo, and display it with my listings, is this possible?
Sure thing. You just need to upload your logo file on the the My Profile link when logged in, or during registration. If your logo is too big, the system will notify you of the correct limits.
In addition, with our powerful HTML editor that is used with key screens, you can add links or upload all sorts of images in the same way any web page is built. This allows you to create very attractive listings for each course, and embed links to a brochure or detailed information packet download.
Instead of giving you a rigid template, we figured that web saavy organizations and teachers would want the freedom to post HTML in more flexible ways. You don't have to do anything but type, however, to post a simple listing.
